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Title: Scientific Creationism by Henry Madison Morris ISBN: 0-89051-002-4 Publisher: Master Books Pub. Date: March, 1985 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $7.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3.42 (36 reviews)

Rating: 3
Summary: Creationism's best foot forward is flat
Comment: *Scientific Creationism* is the Institute for Creation Research's summa against evolution. I gave the book three stars because it is well written, and does an outstanding job of summarizing the views of several major creationists, most notably Henry Morris (who is responsible for most of the written text) and Duane Gish. I can't in good conscience give it any more stars than that due to the content of the book itself, which is tremendously problematic.

Start with the goal of the book. The book is supposed to be used as a resource for balanced teaching of evolution and creation. However, the whole book is devoted to criticizing evolution. Not exactly a presentation of "balanced treatment". Maybe the ICR thinks that evolution is already well enough understood by science teachers. However, unless they are deliberately misrepresenting evolutionary theory (which I find it very hard to rule out), their own presentation of evolution belies this claim. Similarly, some recent studies have revealed that evolution is *not* well understood, not even by those who teach it to high school students. One may also take issue with the general approach of the book--attempting to refute evolution, even if successful, does nothing to bolster creationism. This work does not even *attempt* to show how creationism explains the relevant data--it merely asserts that it predicts it. For all this book tells us, evolution and creationism might *both* be lousy. Don't bother looking for it in their other works either; I've tried, and come up with a big goose egg for my troubles.

Second, the title. Unfortunately, on their *own* standards, creationism is *not* scientific. Creatonists and other critics of evolution (like Philip Johnson) continually assert Popper's view that the defining feature of science is empirical, and primarily experimental, falsification. Yet the ICR explicitly claims that *neither* evolution *nor* creation is testable in this way. So how can they assert that evolution is not scientific, but creationism is? The very title of the book reveals a dishonest double-standard.

Third, why has this book never been updated? About 30 years have passed since this book was first written, and an awful lot has happened in biology since then, most notably the new developments in population genetics and molecular biology that provide new evidence for evolution. Yet the ICR has chosen not to respond to these new developments, either as a body or as individual members. They continue to repeat the same refrain, like an old record sadly skipping over and over.

Speaking of which, another way in which the ICR has refused to change with the evidence is in their continued adherence to Popper's view of *the* scientific method, as taught to all of us in jr. high. Unfortunately, those doing work in philosophy of science have known for 4 decades now (even before this book was written) that Popper's view faces serious theoretical, applicational and historical difficulties. So why do we still see them proclaiming Popper unabashedly? (Johnson, in many ways a much better critic of evolution than the ICR, is similarly wedded to a naive Popperian view of science.)

I think the answer to this lies in the overall strategy of he ICR: say whatever you have to to discredit evolution, regardless of whether it's true. New developments in our understanding of science make their contention that evolution is not scientific problematic, so stick with Popper come hell or high water (so to speak). "Science" is a laudatory term, so call your view "scientific" even if by your own standards it isn't. Say that biologists haven't given you transitional forms, and when they do, deny that they're transitional. (Note for example the ICR's insistence that since the Archaeopteryx had feathers and flew, it *must* be a bird, no matter what anyone says.) Unfortunately, this tactic is displayed in abundance in this book, in every permutation possible--and maybe even some that aren't.

While *Scientific Creationism* is indeed well-written and accurately reflects the overall positions and arguments of the ICR members, it is filled with so many half-truths, vagaries and double-standards that it singlehandedly demonstrates the old maxim that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing". If this book is the ICR's best foot forward, creationism is liable to trip over its own flat feet and fall on its face.

Rating: 5
Summary: Read the book.....
Comment: Wow...can't believe these negative reviews. These folks have obvious bias toward a lie called evolution. One critic claims you must have college level biology to understand evolution. I have college level biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, etc. and creationism is truth to me. As a former atheist, I sought to disprove God. I only proved his existence (IMO). There is so much overwhelming evidence that one could write a book. Check out some sites such as www.answersingenesis.org or www.drdino.com. THere are probably better sources. I have some excellent books at home, but don't recall the titles. A super video which gives archaeological proof of the Exodus is called The Exodus Revealed. It should be available here or Ebay. Divers have found horse bones, hooves, human bones, chariot wheels, etc. in a stretch of the Gulf of Aquaba (one arm of Red Sea). Too much other info in video to cover (photos of probable real Mt.Sinai (with black burned top) and split rock of Horeb, altar, and so much more). Note too that the word dinosaur was not coined until 1841. Prior to this, they were called dragons. Where do you think the legends came from? Dr.Hovind (www.drdino.com) has more info on this (including past legends of dinosaurs and info about rare modern sightings). Marco Polo stated that the emperor of China raised "dragons" to pull chariots in parades. I read recently about a pterodactyl skull that was discovered with soft tissue still present inside the skull.

I agree with a previous reviewer. If you are blinded to the truth, it is because God has chosen to blind you in your arrogance. I was once disobedient and arrogant. He is slowly opening my eyes and teaching me Truth. Pray to God for conviction and that the Holy Spirit will do a work in you. I have witnessed supernatural things in the last few years that I can't explain from a scientific point of view. There is something spiritual or "inter-dimensional" out there. I feel that this "spiritual" world will soon collide with our physical world. I would not want to be on God's bad side when this occurs. There is a verse and I paraphrase "Only a fool says in his heart There is no God".

Rating: 5
Summary: Please Read the book before you review...
Comment: I am a biology major and I found this book to be packed with helpful and relevant information. I was shocked at the lack of quality of these negative reviews I've read. The assumption that all scientists believe in evolution simply isn't the truth anymore. Morris shows multiple hinderances to evolution, including the undeniable fact that mutations in DNA are not only rare, they are often fatal, which is why cells have methods to correct mutations.

Enough of the vicious bickering about creationists being crazy religious freaks. Let's quit calling names and actually look at evidence. Such immature reviews should be removed from public view.